WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Sonia Sotomayor won Senate confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1998 , all 29 `` no '' votes were cast by Republicans .

Sonia Sotomayor is virtually sure to be confirmed by the Democratic-dominated Senate , analysts say .

That may happen again when the Senate votes in coming months on Sotomayor 's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court .

The career jurist nominated by President Obama would be the first Hispanic justice -- and only the third woman justice -- in the history of the nation 's highest court .

Those distinctions make Sotomayor 's confirmation by the Democratic-majority Senate virtually certain , analysts say . They also note that Republican President George H.W. Bush first nominated Sotomayor as a federal judge , indicating broad political appeal .

A senior White House official told CNN that Sotomayor was `` nominated by George -LSB- H.W. -RSB- Bush -- then Bill Clinton -- -LSB- and has -RSB- more judicial experience than anyone sitting on the court had at the time they were nominated . '' Watch Obama tell why Sotomayor is ` the kind of justice we need ' ''

The partisan divide over the nomination was immediately evident . iReport.com : Listen to what CNN readers are saying about Sotomayor

Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont , the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , which will first consider Sotomayor 's nomination , called her record exemplary for a candidate to succeed retiring Justice David Souter -- a liberal voice on the high court .

`` I believe that Judge Sotomayor will be in the mold of Justice Souter , who understands the real-world impact of the court 's decisions , rather than the mold of the conservative activists who second-guess Congress , and who through judicial extremism undercut laws meant to protect Americans from discrimination in their jobs , their access to health care and education , and their privacy from an overreaching government , '' Leahy 's statement said . `` I believe Judge Sotomayor understands that the courthouse doors must be as open to ordinary Americans as they are to government and big corporations . ''

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky called for a vigorous confirmation process to `` thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law even-handedly , despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences . ''

`` Our Democratic colleagues have often remarked that the Senate is not a ` rubber stamp , ' '' McConnell said . `` Accordingly , we trust they will ensure there is adequate time to prepare for this nomination , and a full and fair opportunity to question the nominee and debate her qualifications . ''

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas , a Republican member of the Judiciary Committee , said Sotomayor must `` prove her commitment to impartially deciding cases based on the law , rather than based on her own personal politics , feelings and preferences . ''

However , CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin noted that he has n't heard any Republicans come out and say they will vote against her , noting that in past nominations , some have come out of the gate outright against the nominees .

Still , Sotomayor 's critics have begun to highlight comments she made during a panel discussion at Duke University in 2005 , where she told students that the federal Court of Appeals is where `` policy is made . ''

`` I know that this is on tape , '' she then immediately said . `` I should never say that . Because we do n't ` make law ' ... I 'm not promoting it , and I 'm not advocating it . Having said that , the Court of Appeals is where ... the law is percolating . ''

CNN senior political analyst Gloria Borger said those comments may be what Republicans rally around in their attempt to block her confirmation .

`` I 've spoken to a bunch of conservatives today who intend to use this YouTube clip , intend to use lots of clips from speeches she 's given talking about how they believe that she will be an activist judge who will legislate from the bench , '' Borger said . `` And so it 's kind of interesting because in a way , I think they intend to use more of her speeches and her appearances than lots of her court decisions . ''

For now , those speeches seem to be the main sticking point , though it is likely Republicans will latch on to other issues they feel make her a bad choice for the job .

`` Certainly you will see controversy because it 's in Republicans ' interest to generate controversy , '' Toobin said . `` They want to defeat her . This is a major , major initiative of the Obama presidency . Now whether any of this controversy sticks , I think , is very much an open question . ''

Republicans also must be careful about whether unfair scrutiny or personal attacks could backfire , Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele told CNN when asked about possibly harming his party 's Hispanic outreach by opposing Sotomayor .

`` You want to be careful , '' Steele said . `` You do n't want to be perceived as a bully . ''

Senate Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California warned against Republican stall tactics in the face of a likely filibuster-proof 60 votes supporting Sotomayor 's confirmation .

`` Any unnecessary delay will only keep the court from getting ready for a new term and inhibit the Senate 's ability to focus on other important priorities like the economy , energy and health care , '' Feinstein said .

The National Organization for Woman said Sotomayor `` brings a lifelong commitment to equality , justice and opportunity , as well as the respect of her peers , unassailable integrity , and a keen intellect informed by experience . ''

However , Wendy E. Long of the conservative Judicial Confirmation Network described Sotomayor as a `` liberal judicial activist of the first order , '' code language for opposition by the political right .

The confirmation process will begin with Senate Judiciary Committee hearings , expected in July . The committee will decide whether to send the nomination to the full chamber , which will make the final confirmation decision .

Obama has said he wants Sotomayor confirmed before the Senate goes on its August break to ensure that Sotomayor , if confirmed , can be seated with the Supreme Court when it begins its new session in October . Leahy endorsed that timetable , saying Tuesday , `` We are committed to ensuring that the next justice is seated before the court 's term begins in October . ''

Senate Republicans , however , want to allow time for an upcoming Supreme Court decision on an appellate ruling by Sotomayor in an affirmative action case involving New Haven , Connecticut , firefighters .

Senate Republican whip John Kyl of Arizona , a member of the Judiciary Committee , noted that the Republican-controlled chamber took 73 days to confirm conservative Chief Justice John Roberts and 93 days to confirm conservative Justice Samuel Alito . To complete the confirmation process by August , the Senate would have to act in 66 days .

`` I would expect that Senate Democrats will afford the minority the same courtesy as we move forward with this process , '' Kyl said .

In the New Haven case , a three-judge appellate panel that included Sotomayor upheld a lower court ruling that supported the decision of New Haven officials to throw out results of promotional exams that they said left too few minorities qualified .

The high court was asked to decide whether there is a continued need for special treatment for minorities , or whether enough progress has been made to make existing laws obsolete , especially in a political atmosphere where an African-American occupies the White House .

Long said the New Haven case showed that Sotomayor `` reads racial preferences and quotas into the Constitution , even to the point of dishonoring those who preserve our public safety . ''

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Republicans say they need time to examine record of Obama 's high court nominee

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Conservative group calls Sonia Sotomayor `` liberal judicial activist ''

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Sotomayor 's confirmation virtually certain in Democratic-majority Senate , analysts say

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Obama has said he wants Sotomayor confirmed before August congressional break